Fourth of July San Francisco

Top Activities & Events for 4th of July 2018

Fourth of July in San Francisco is always a busy holiday. In 2018, this popular holiday lands on a Wednesday and it always attracts thousands of people to the waterfront area.

On this day, you can enjoy fireworks along the waterfront, activities all day at Pier 39 and a ferry ride around the bay.

Beautiful fireworks over Pier 39 in SF's Fisherman's Wharf

Other popular activities this day include biking around the city, wine tasting tours, and several other fun activities throughout the day. You can also join one of the SF Public Library's free walking tours in the morning or afternoon.

The weekend before is also full of fun activities with the annual Fillmore Street Festival, a free concert in Stern Grove Park and Oakland Athletics baseball just across the bay.

Disclaimer: I recieve a small commission from some of the links on this page.

Watch the Fireworks Display

Every year, San Francisco holds a large fireworks display over the bay. There are two sets of fireworks, synced, to allow you to get a glimpse from all around the area.

One set at the end of the Municipal Pier. The other one is on barges in front of Pier 39.

Large parts of the SF waterfront are closed to cars due to crowds for the fireworks display. I recommend heading down early and using public transit to get to and from this area of town for the fireworks display.

The fireworks display starts shortly before 9:30pm (or once it's dark enough to start) and lasts around 30 minutes.

More Fisherman's Wharf Activities for 4th of July in SF

Hundreds of thousands of people watch the fireworks display off the coast of Fisherman's Wharf each year. And, many spend the day there too! Here are some of the best activities in Fisherman's Wharf for Fourth of July in San Francisco.

If you plan to head out on a cruise or a tour, these do sell out quickly, so pick up your tickets as soon as you can!

Celebrate the Day on Pier 39: Pier 39 will again host a large fourth of July celebration. All afternoon you can listen to live music and enjoy other family friendly activities. This year's events include special exhibits on the western side of the Pier. These are open starting at 11am. Tainted Love takes the stage near the entrance at 5pm. Enjoy live music with them until 8pm. You can then watch the fireworks show from Pier 39 starting at around 9:30pm.

Live Music at Aquatic Park: In addition to all the fun at Pier 39, the City and County of San Francisco is also hosting live music at Aquatic Park. This event starts at 6pm. After the live music, you will be treated to the fireworks display at 9:30pm (also courtesy of the City and County of San Francisco). Admission is free. Make sure to arrive early for your spot on the lawn. Picnics are allowed here, but alcohol is prohibited.

60-Minute Bay Cruises: All day and weekend long, head out on the SF Bay for the popular 60-minute Bay Cruise. It starts at Fisherman's Wharf. You will begin your journey by heading west toward the Golden Gate Bridge. You will see top attractions along the waterfront and then head under the famous Golden Gate Bridge. The journey then takes you back east (under the bridge for a second time) and over to Alcatraz Island. You will cruise around the island and then head back to the starting point at Fisherman's Wharf. It's a great first look at this wonderful city by the bay! Pick up your 4th of July tickets today

Rocketboat: Head out on the SF Bay on a high speed adventure. The Rocketboat is a 30-minute ride that twists and turns on the water as they blast rock and roll classics. The ride is quick, but it's an experience you will never forget. Find tickets for July 4th rides.

SF Bay Sailing Cruise: Enjoy a 90-minute cruise around the bay on a catamaran. On this cruise, you will see some of SF's top attractions including the Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito, and Alcatraz Island. Choose from three departure times on the Fourth of July: 11am, 1pm, and 3pm. Snacks, beer, wine, and soft drinks are available for purchase on board. Find your tickets today

Aquarium of the Bay: Spend some time exploring the Aquarium of the Bay on Pier 39. This interesting aquarium gives you the chance to check out all of the colorful plants and animals that live in the SF Bay. You will see jelly fish, star fish, and a couple of the small sharks as you walk through the tunnel tank. There are also some great hands on exhibits. The aquarium is open from 9am to 8pm on Fourth of July. Buy your tickets in advance

Ripley's Believe It or Not: Step inside this Odditorium to explore its 16 galleries and more than 400 exhibits from around the world, open from 10am to 9pm on Fourth of July San Francisco, pick up advanced tickets

San Francisco Dungeon: One of the newest attractions in Fisherman's Wharf, this theatrical experience features live actors acting out SF's past with thrilling stories and heart pounding special effects, 9 live shows, 12pm with the last show starting at 7pm, pick up advanced tickets

Ghirardelli Square: Spend some time shopping and enjoying local goodies at Ghirardelli Square, visit their wine tasting room and soak in the views of the SF Bay, they will be open all day long

More Daytime Tours & Cruises from Fisherman's Wharf

Where to Stay in Fisherman's Wharf

If you plan to spend your entire day in Fisherman's Wharf, you will find dozens of places to spend the night too. This district has a large concentration of hotels for every budget. Here are just a few of my top recommendations.

Oakland A's Baseball: Celebrate Independence weekend with the American past time - baseball! The Oakland A's host the San Diego Padres on Tuesday & Wednesday at the Oakland Coliseum. The Fourth of July game starts at 1:05pm

California Academy of Sciences: The California Academy of Sciences, our most visited museum, is now open 365 days a year! This means you can spend the day inside this interactive museum as you explore their rainforest, see a show in the planetarium, or stop by to say hi to their rare white alligator.

Free SF Library Walking Tours: The Public Library offers a number of free walking tours each day in San Francisco. So far, many of their Tuesday tours are still planned for Fourth of July. Here is the schedule so far:

de Young Museum: One of our two fine arts museums that focuses on pieces from the Americas, Africa and beyond, more on visiting, open from 9:30am to 5:15pm

Legion of Honor: Our other fine arts museum with pieces from Europe, more on visiting, open from 9:30am to 5:15pm

Twin Peaks: Free attraction with the best views of San Francisco and the surrounding areas, open until midnight, a popular place to watch the fireworks but there is very little parking, pictures and more tips to visit

Walt Disney Family Museum: This museum all about Walt Disney is also open on Fourth of July San Francisco, see early pieces of his work, the history of how he built his company and other pieces about his life, learn more about visiting here

Beers & Bites Adventure: This 4 to 5 hour tour offers stops at 3 of our best breweries, samples at all three are included with your ticket, light snacks are also included at each stop, starts at 2:30pm and includes complimentary hotel pick up, check for ticket availability

Other Activities for Fourth of July Week 2018

Here are some additional things to do on the days before or after Fourth of July San Francisco.

Free Concert in that Park at Stern Grove: Catch a free performance of the SF Symphony in Stern Grove Park. There are performances both the Sunday before (July 1) and after (July 8). The shows start at 2pm. Make sure to arrive early to get the perfect seat on the lawn. Stern Grove Summer Concert Series

SF Giants Baseball: The San Francisco Giants return home on Thursday, July 5 for a four game home series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Don't miss your chance to cheer on our Giants baseball team in one of the most beautiful parks in the US.

Theater Productions: This week is also full of fun theater shows. The top pick this week are School of Rock at the Orpheum Theater. It's the story of a down and out musician that becomes a substitute teacher. During his time at school, he decides to build a rock band with some of the students to compete in an upcoming battle of the bands competition.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame at the Victoria Theater, it's the classic tale written by Victor Hugo and it will take you back to the streets of 15th-century Paris with wicked men in power and unforgettable heroes, find tickets at up to 50% off on Goldstar

Sunday in the Park with George at the SF Playhouse, it's a story about the struggles an artists faces as he works to complete his most important masterpiece, but will it come at the expense of his relationship, find out this week at the SF Playhouse, find tickets at up to 50% off on Goldstar

Alcatraz Tours: Alcatraz Island is open all weekend long. If you plan to visit, book your tickets as soon as you can as they will sell out quickly. All three days, you will find several days tours and a few night tours. The first cruise leaves at 8:45am. What It's Like to Visit Alcatraz

Popular Alcatraz Combo Tours this Week

SF with Kids: Do you need more ideas to keep your kids entertained this holiday weekend? No reason to worry. You will find plenty of activities for kids, that are also fun for the entire family. Options range from the 7D Experience at Pier 39 to the hands-on science and human perception museum, The Exploratorium. 25 Fun Activities for Kids in San Francisco

Top Discounts this Week

In addition to the activities mentioned above for Fourth of July San Francisco, here are a few additional things to do this week. All tickets below are offered at a discount on Goldstar. They offer tours, theater, and other activity tickets at up to 50% off their full retail price. Click the links for details.

Weather in July & What to Wear

What will the weather be like during your visit for Fourth of July San Francisco? Some visitors think it is hot and sunny in San Francisco during the summer. However, the cool ocean breezes and late day fog keeps it nice and cool.